Method and device for producing honeycomb structure

Abstract

A method for producing a honeycomb structure according to the present invention includes: a preparation step of preparing a honeycomb structure element 2 having plurality of slits 12 ; and a filling step of filling the plurality of slits 12 with a filling material 13 by a contacting member 3 by feeding the filling material 13 to an outer peripheral surface 20 of the honeycomb structure element 2 , and rotating the honeycomb structure element 2 while pressing a tip portion 3 a of the contacting member 3 inclined at an angle relative to a normal line 20 a of the outer peripheral surface 20 of the honeycomb structure element 2 against the outer peripheral surface 20 with a force, to obtain the honeycomb structure having the plurality of slits 12 filled with the filling material 13.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing a honeycomb structure, the honeycomb structure comprising:
 an outer peripheral wall; 
 a partition wall arranged on an inner side of the outer peripheral wall, the partition wall defining a plurality of cells each extending from one end face to other end face to form a flow path; 
 a plurality of slits spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction and extending inwardly in a radial direction from the outer peripheral wall, the plurality of slits being provided such that the outer peripheral wall is opened; and 
 a filling material filling each of the slits, 
 wherein the method comprises: 
 a preparation step of preparing a honeycomb structure element having the plurality of slits; and 
 a filling step of filling the plurality of slits with the filling material by a contacting member by feeding the filling material to an outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure element, and rotating the honeycomb structure element while pressing a tip portion of the contacting member inclined at an angle relative to a normal line of the outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure element against the outer peripheral surface with a force, to obtain the honeycomb structure having the plurality of slits filled with the filling material. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for producing a honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein an inclination angle θ of the contacting member relative to the normal line is 30° or more and 75° or less. 
     
     
       3. The method for producing a honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein a pressing force of the tip portion of the contacting member against the outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure element is 1 N or more and 150 N or less. 
     
     
       4. The method for producing a honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the honeycomb structure element is rotated by one or more revolutions and 50 or less revolutions while pressing the tip portion of the contacting member against the outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure element. 
     
     
       5. The method for producing a honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting member has a blade shape. 
     
     
       6. The method for producing a honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling step is carried under a humidity controlled environment of 30 RH % or higher. 
     
     
       7. The method for producing a honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein a rotational speed of the honeycomb structure element is 30 rpm or more and 120 rpm or less.